Zakhilwal wants Haq to help ease Af-Pak tension

KABUL (Pajhwok): Ambassador Omar Zakhilwal has met Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Sami (JUI-S) chief in the Nowshera district Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and discussed with him bilateral relations and the peace process, a media report said on Wednesday.

Zakhelwal travelled to the Jamia Haqqania seminary in Akora Khattak, where many Taliban leaders have received education, to meet Maulana Samiul Haq for the fourth time in recent months

According to the report, the envoy requested Haq -- who is widely branded as Taliban’s father -- to play his role in defusing tension between the neighbours.

The JUI-S issued a press release, confirming the Afghan ambassador had sought Maulana Sami Haq’s role in defusing tension between the two countries. Zakhilwal appreciated Haq’s efforts to improve relations between the neighbours.

It quoted the ambassador as having said that Haq’s mediation was acceptable to the Afghan Taliban, government and people. The JUI-S head promised cooperation with any peace initiative.

However, he linked his cooperation with the withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan. The JUI-S chief called on the Pakistan government to rethink its foreign policy because, according to him, India was taking advantage of the current situation in the region.